GRAY WOLVES: CHARACTERISTICS, BEHAVIOR AND REPRODUCTION

GRAY WOLVES

gray wolf

For the most part what we call wolves are gray wolves (Canis lupus), which can also be spelled grey wolves. Indian wolves, Arctic wolves, Eurasian wolves, Arabian wolves and many others are all subspecies of gray wolves. A total of 38 subspecies of Canis lupus are listed in the taxonomic authority Mammal Species of the World (2005, 3rd edition). These subspecies have been named over the past 250 years, and since their naming, a number of them have gone extinct. Wikipedia lists 11 main ones in Eurasia and 18 in the Americas.

Gray wolves generally live in temperate areas or colder areas with climates similar to the U.S., Canada or Europe, They are one of the most wide ranging land animals, occupying a wide variety of habitats, including arctic tundra, forests, prairie, taiga, chaparral forests, scrub forests, deserts and mountains. The original range of gray wolves comprised of the majority of the Northern hemisphere — from the Arctic continuing south to a latitude of 20°S, which runs through southern Central Mexico, northern Africa, and southern Asia. However, due to habitat destruction, environmental change, persecution by humans, and other barriers to population growth, gray wolf populations are now found only in a few areas of their original range. [Source: Tanya Dewey and Julia Smith, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) |=|]

Gray wolves may live thirteen years in the wild, though average lifespan is five to six years. They have lived up to 20 years in captivity. Adults usually die from old age or from injuries received while hunting or fighting with other wolves. Most mortality occurs within the first few years of life when young are more susceptible to disease, starvation and attacks by predators.

Gray wolves are widely recognized to be the ancestor of all domestic dog breeds, including feral forms such as dingos and New Guinea singing dogs. Genetic evidence suggests that gray wolves were domesticated at least twice, and perhaps as many as five times, by humans. Artificial selection by humans for particular traits, such as size, color patterns, appearance, hunting ability, aggressiveness and loyalty have resulted in the remarkable array of domestic dog breeds and morphologie that we have today. Domestic dogs vary in size from tiny 1.5-kilogram chihuahuas to 90-kilogram St. Bernards. |=|

Gray Wolf Characteristics

gray wolf skeleton

The largest of approximately 36 wild species of canids, wolves range in weight from 23 to 80 kilograms (50.6 to 176.2 pounds) and range in length from 0.87 to 1.3 meters (2.9 to 4.3 feet) Tail length ranges between 35 to 52 centimeters (13.7 to 20.5 inches). Height (measured from base of paws to shoulder) generally ranges from 60 to 90 centimeters (roughly two to three feet). Distance between the canines is around four centimeters (1.6 inches). Gray wolves vary in size based primarily on geographic locality, with southern populations generally being smaller than northern populations. [Source:Tanya Dewey and Julia Smith, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) |=|]|

Sexual Dimorphism (differences between males and females) is present: Males are larger than females. Total body length, from tip of the nose to tip of the tail, is from one to 1.3 meters (3.3 to 4.3 feet) in males, and .87 to 1.17 meters (in females. Males can weigh from 30 to 80 kilograms (66 to 176 pounds) ,with an average of 55 kilograms (121 pounds),females can weigh from 23 to 55 kilograms (51 to 121 pounds), with an average of 45 kilograms (100 pounds).

Gray wolves have a dense underfur layer, providing them with very good insulation against the cold. Fur color of gray wolves varies geographically, ranging from pure white in Arctic populations, to mixtures of white with gray, brown, cinammon, and black to nearly uniform black. Gray wolves can be distinguished from red wolves (Canis rufus) by their larger size, broader snout, and shorter ears. They are distinguished from coyotes (Canis latrans) by being 50 to 100 percent larger and having a broader snout and larger feet. |=|

Tanya Dewey and Julia Smith wrote in Animal Diversity Web: North American populations have three distinct color phases. The normal phase is characterized by varying mixtures of white with shades of black, gray, cinnamon, and brown on the upper parts of the animal. The back is usually more profoundly black, and the muzzle, ears, and limbs have cinammon coloration as well. Under parts are whitish and the tail is conspicuously black over the tail gland, and paler below to the tip, which is nearly pure black. The black phase of North American populations is characterized by the upper parts varying from brown to black, with specks of white; the underparts are paler in tone, and there is often a pure white medial pectoral spot. The third color phase occurs during the first fur of young wolves. The upper parts are drab-gray, overlaid with brownish-black. The underparts are paler as well, and the ears vary from black to buffy, depending on the subspecies. |=|

Gray Wolf Food and Eating Behavior

Gray wolves are carnivores (eat meat or animal parts) and mostly eat terrestrial vertebrates. They hunt prey on their own, in packs, steal the prey of other predators, or scavenge carrion. Prey is located by chance or scent. Animals included in the diet of gray wolves varies geographically and depends on prey availability. [Source: Wikipedia, Tanya Dewey and Julia Smith, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) |=|]

gray wolf range

Gray wolves are not picky eaters and eat a variety of things. Smaller-sized animals that are regularly consumed include rodents, hares, insectivores and smaller carnivores. They frequently eat waterfowl and their eggs. When normal food sources are in short supply they may prey on lizards, snakes, and frogs, and grasshoppers and other insects. Wolves in some areas may consume fish and even marine life. Among the plant material they eat are berries of mountain-ash, lily of the valley, bilberries, cowberries, European black nightshade, grain crops, and the shoots of reeds. They consume apples, pears, figs, melons, berries and cherries in Europe and blueberries and raspberries in North America. They also eat grass, which may provide some vitamins, but is most likely used mainly to induce vomiting to rid themselves of intestinal parasites or long guard hairs.

Wolves usually utilize the entire carcass, including some hair and bones. Wolves can digest their meal in a few hours and can feed several times in one day, making quick use of large quantities of meat. A well-fed wolf stores fat under the skin, around the heart, intestines, kidneys, and bone marrow, particularly during the autumn and winter.

Gray Wolf Hunting

Wolves primarily hunt in packs for large prey such as moose, elk, bison, musk oxen, and reindeer. They feed predominantly on wild large hoofed mammals (ungulates) that can be divided into large ones (240–650 kilograms, 530–1,430 pounds) and medium size ones (23–130 kilograms, 51–287 pounds) and have a body mass similar to that of the combined mass of the pack members. Smaller prey such as beavers, rabbits, and other small mammals are usually hunted by lone wolves, and they are a substantial part of their diet. Wolves may also eat livestock and garbage when it is available. [Source: Wikipedia, Tanya Dewey and Julia Smith, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) |=|]

gray wolf body postures

Wolves specialize on preying on the vulnerable individuals of large prey, with a pack of 15 able to bring down an adult moose. Once these large ungulates are taken down, the wolves attack their rump, flank, and shoulder areas. Wolves control prey populations by hunting the weak, old, and immature. A wolf can consume up to nine kilograms of meat at one meal. The variation in diet between wolves living on different continents is based on the variety of hoofed mammals and of available smaller and domesticated prey.

The diet of North American wolves is dominated by wild ungulates and medium-sized mammals. The diet Asian and European wolves is dominated by wild medium-sized hoofed mammals and domestic animals. Wolves have traditionally depended on wild species, and if these are not readily available, as often the casein Asia, they are more likely to feed on domestic species. Across Eurasia, wolves prey mostly on moose, red deer, roe deer and wild boar. In North America, they prey mainly on elk, moose, caribou, white-tailed deer and mule deer. Prior to their extirpation from North America, wild horses were among the most frequently consumed prey of North American wolves.

Gray Wolf Behavior

Gray wolves are cursorial (with limbs adapted to running), terricolous (live on the ground), diurnal (active during the daytime), nocturnal (active at night), motile (move around as opposed to being stationary), nomadic (move from place to place, generally within a well-defined range), territorial (defend an area within the home range), social (associates with others of its species; forms social groups), and have dominance hierarchies (ranking systems or pecking orders among members of a long-term social group, where dominance status affects access to resources or mates). Home Range: The territory of a pack ranges from 130 to 13,000 square kilometers, and is defended against intruders.[Source: Tanya Dewey and Julia Smith, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) |=|]

Gray wolves can run at speeds up to 55 to 70 kilometers per hour. They sense using touch and chemicals usually detected with smell. They display many of the same behaviors as dogs. They wag their tails and lick to show affection. Many behaviors are related to determining a wolf’s position in the social hierarchy and their mood. David Attenborough wrote: “Communication by gesture and by sound is constant. A high tail indicates confidence and, in an argument, aggression. Ears pulled back, the tail between the legs and a half-crouched posture demonstrates submission, Tail wagging conveys contentment, Whimpers and squeals indicated anxiety or irritation, And its is by such communications that the pack comes to communal decisions, such as when to set out on a hunt. [Source: “Life of Mammals” by David Attenborough]

Each year, gray wolf packs have a stationary and nomadic phase. Stationary phases occur during the spring and summer, while pups are being reared. Nomadic, phases occur during the fall and winter. Wolf movements are usually at night and cover long distances. Daily distance traveled can be up to 200 kilometers, the usual pace is eight kilometers per hour. Few animals prey on gray wolves. Wolves and coyotes are highly territorial and wolves from other packs and coyotes may attack wolves that are alone or young. They will kill pups if they find them. |=|

Caribou have the longest land migration of any mammal. The Bathurst Herd, from the Northwest Territories, and the Porcupine Herd, from Alaska and the Yukon Territory, are the elites of the elites — each has been tracked traveling about 1,352 kilometers (840 miles). A group of gray wolves in Canada, believed to follow caribou, have been tracked migrating over 1,000 kilometers in a year. A single gray wolf in Mongolia even traveled 7,247 kilometers in a year. [Source:Cara Giaimo, New York Times, November 13, 2019]

Gray Wolf Social Behavior and Hierarchy

Gray wolves are very gregarious, pack-living animals. Each pack comprises two to 36 individuals, depending upon habitat and abundance of prey. Most packs are made up of five to nine members and typically composed of an alpha pair and their offspring, including young of previous years. Unrelated immigrants may also become members of packs. [Source: Tanya Dewey and Julia Smith, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) |=|]

According to Animal Diversity Web: There is a strong dominance hierarchy within each pack. The pack leader, usually the alpha male, is dominant over all other individuals. The next dominant individual is the alpha female, who is subordinate only to the alpha male. In the event that the alpha male becomes injured or is otherwise unable to maintain his dominance, the beta male will take his place in the hierarchy. Alpha males typically leave the pack if this occurs, but this is not always the case. Rank within the pack hierarchy determines which animals mate and which eat first. Rank is demonstrated by postural cues and facial expressions, such as crouching, chin touching, and rolling over to show the stomach. |=|

There is only one leader in a pack, and often there is a struggle between members of the pack to determine who the leader is. The struggle ends with one animal on top of the other, with the submissive animal lying on its back. The dominant animal places its paw on the chest of the submissive one, and until the submissive animal looks away from the eyes of the dominant animal, the struggle continues. As soon as the submissive animal averts his eyes, he has admitted defeat and the leader of the pack has been determined. [Source: Tanya Dewey and Sheetal Bhagat,Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Rank is communicated among wolves by body language and facial expressions, such as crouching, chin touching, and rolling over to show their stomach. Vocalizations, such as howling allows pack members to communicate with each other about where they are, when they should assemble for group hunts, and to communicate with other packs about where the boundaries of their territories are. Scent marking is ordinarily only done by the alpha male, and is used for communication with other packs. [Source: Tanya Dewey and Julia Smith, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) |=|]

Gray Wolf Mating and Reproduction

Gray wolves are monogamous (have one mate at a time) and are cooperative breeders (helpers provide assistance in raising young that are not their own). The dominant pair in a pack are the only members that breed. If one member of the alpha monogamous pair dies a new alpha male or female emerges and take over as the mate. [Source: Tanya Dewey and Julia Smith, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) |=|]

Gray wolves engage in seasonal breeding. They breed once each year, usually between January and April, but depends on where they are living, with northern populations breeding later than southern populations. The gestation period ranges up to 63 days. The number of offspring ranges from 5 to 14, with the average being six or seven.

Female gray wolves choose their mates and often form a life-long pair bond. Gray wolf pairs spend a great deal of time together. Females come into estrus once each year and it lasts five to 14 days. Mating occurs during this time. After mating occurs, the female digs a den in which the young are born and initially nurtured. The den is often dug with an entrance that slopes down and then up again to a higher area to avoid flooding. Sometimes dens are placed under cliffs, under fallen trees, or in caves.

all except the red wolves are subspecies of grey wolves, from animalspot

Gray Wolf Offspring and Parenting

Gray wolf young are altricial, meaning they are relatively underdeveloped at birth. altricial During the pre-weaning and pre-independence stages of offspring development provisioning and protecting are done by males and females. The post-independence period is characterized by the association of offspring with their There is an extended period of juvenile learning.The position of the mother in the dominance hierarchy affects status of young. The average weaning age is 45 Females reach sexual or reproductive maturity around two years of age, while males do so around three years. [Source: Tanya Dewey and Julia Smith, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) |=|]

Gray wolf pups are born in the den and remain there for several weeks after birth. They are born deaf and with their eyes closed. They weigh approximately 0.5 kilograms at birh and initially depend on their mother for warmth. At ten to fifteen days of age, the pups' blue eyes open, but they only have control over their front legs, thus crawling is their only mode of getting around. Five to ten days later, the young are able to stand, walk, and vocalize.Pups remain in the den until they are eight to 10 weeks old. Females stay with their pups almost exclusively for the first three weeks.

Pups are cared for by all members of the pack. Until they are 45 days old the pups are fed regurgitated food by all pack members. They are fed meat provided by pack members after that age. During the 20th to 77th day, pups leave the den for the first time and learn to play fight. Interactions at this time, as well as the dominance status of the mother, ultimately determines their position in the pack hierarchy. Wolf pups develop rapidly, they must be large and accomplished enough to hunt with the pack with the onset of winter. At approximately ten months old, the young begin to hunt with the pack. Most young gray wolves disperse from their natal pack when they are between one and three years old. |=|

Gray Wolf Nurturing

David Attenborough wrote: “Teamwork...demands discipline and discipline for a wolf starts early. The young pups are born in a den selected by their mother. It may be a natural occurring hole, beneath tree roots or under a boulder, or she may have dug it herself with here strong blunt claws. There may be a half dozen or so pups. They are born blind and do not open their eyes until they around two weeks old, Their mother licks them regularly. This is not only to keep them clean. The calls of her tongue is also an instruction to them to defecate. Having felt it, little pup rolls over on its back and duly obeys. The action, one of the pup’s first behavioral responses, is something that it will perform throughout its life an indiction of submission. In the weeks to come the growing pup will use it when it get involved in a fight with another and decided that it has had enough of being chivvied and nipped.. As soon as it rolls in its back, exposing its vulnerable belly, its rival withdraws. In this way ranking is established with the new generation. [Source: “Life of Mammals” by David Attenborough]

“The pups have huge appetites, Half a dozen take a lot of feeding. When adults return from a successful hunt with full belies, the pups beg, whining and wagging their tails and licking the corners of the adult’s mouth until eventually it discourages gobbets of meat from its stomach. The pups may be so persistent that they will keep pestering an adult until it has nothing further to give and then its lets the pups know with a growl.

“When the pups are big enough they leave the den, usually between three and ten weeks, the whole pack can once more range widely in search of food...This year’s youngsters may still not be sufficiently big and strong to take part. So they, together sometimes with older members of the pack, who can now no longer keep up in a long chase, steel down in a resting place, a rendezvous. Here they will remain until the rest of the pack return if the hunt has failed or until they hear the triumphant howls that signals success. And when the pack is reunited, the hunters will surrender some of the spoils from their bellies to those who remained behind.

“There is price to pay, however, for this discipline social life. The difficulties of hunting are such that the number of pups a pack can raise in a year is limited and usually only the top dogs, the alpha male and his mate, will breed. The junior members of physically capable of doing so but aggressive behavior from their seniors prevents this. Junior bitches in the pack, if they show much interest in the senior male, will be driven away by his mate and he reacts in a similar way towards junior optimistic young males. Both will interrupt incipient copulation among their juniors. The situation cannot remain unchanged for ever. Eventually old age and failing strength bring changes in the hierarchy. Young vigorous individuals may break away to found their own packs. But it is very unusual for a pack, particularly when conditions are hard, to rear more than a single litter a year.

Gray Wolves, Humans and Conservation

Gray wolves as a whole not endangered. They are designated a species of least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. But some gray wolf population are endangered.pr threatened, On the US Federal List they are or were categorized as Endangered. Most U.S. populations of gray wolves have now been delisted, except for experimental populations of Mexican gray wolves in the southwest. In CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild) they are in Appendix II, except for populations in Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan, which are in Appendix I. |=| [Source: Tanya Dewey and Julia Smith, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) |=|]

In some places gray wolves are an ecotourism draw. Historically, their body parts were source of valuable materials. Their fur was used to make warmth coats. As top predators in many ecosystems, wolves are important in controlling populations of their prey. Wolves have also been important culturally. Many people regarded them as symbols of strength, freedom, evil and wildness. Wolves have featured prominently in folklore and literature. Wolf products, including posters, books, and t-shirts are very popular.

Gray wolves may sometimes kill livestock but extent of livestock loss to wolves is often overstated. They also rarely kill people. Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt said: "Few animals have ever haunted our dreams or fired our imaginations more than the wolf. Unfortunately, by the early part of this century, man had almost exterminated the wolf from the lower 48 states. The recovery of the wolf is becoming an impressive conservation success story and a gift to future generations"

According to Animal Diversity Web: Wolves play an important role in the ecosystem by controlling natural prey populations and removing weak individuals. As settlement increased, the belief that livestock was endangered by wolf populations also increased. As such, the frequency of hunting the gray wolf exploded. The populations were nearly eradicated. Currently in the lower 48 United States, about 2,600 gray wolves exist, with nearly 2,000 in Minnesota (compared to the few hundred living there in the mid-20th century). Successful recovery plans have been developed throughout the country. These plans evaluate the populations to determine distribution, abundance, and status. The main cause of population declines has been habitat destruction and persecution by humans. But the reintroduction of gray wolves into protected lands has greatly increased the likelihood of their survival in North America. Populations in Alaska and Canada have remained steady and are fairly numerous. Currently the State of Alaska manages 6,000 to 8,000 gray wolves and Canada's populations are estimated at about 50,000. The wolves in Canada are managed by provincial governments and are not currently threatened. |=|

In western Eurasia gray wolf populations have been reduced to isolated remnants in Poland, Scandinavia, Russia, Portugal, Spain, and Italy. Wolves were exterminated from the British Isles in the 1700's and disappeared from Japan and nearly disappeared from Japan and Greenland in the 20th century. Greenland's wolf populations seem to have made a full recovery. The status of wolf populations throughout much of eastern Eurasia is poorly known, but in many areas populations are probably stable. |=|

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: Animal Diversity Web animaldiversity.org ; National Geographic, Live Science, Natural History magazine, CNTO (China National Tourism Administration) David Attenborough books, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Discover magazine, The New Yorker, Time, BBC, CNN, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Wikipedia, The Guardian, Top Secret Animal Attack Files website and various books and other publications.

Last updated May 2025